Perspective

I like traveling for several reasons. For one, I find it truly energizing. In my case, the plethora of neurons that are activated in the context of adapting to a new environment have the effect of really firing up my senses. I know the response is not the same for everyone ... several people have told me they find it enervating.

The positive effects last for a few days after I return home. I notice things I haven't seen before, like the intensity of sunlight in India, which is so much more tender (thankfully) than the harsh rays of the northern latitudes ... the fact that the cab driver who picks me up to drive me back to my home is so well informed about whats happening in his environment, in comparison to cabbies abroad .... I am thankful that I am able to jog on clay, so much better than asphalt in on trails in the US.

And then theres perspective. Everything seems so much more cramped after you return from the US ... in the US you can see longer distances without obstacles, be it on the road or even in the suburbs. The perspective gained from those visualizations creates sharper contrasts when you return. The ground I jog on simply seems smaller ... creating the illusion of power and stamina until I begin to tire pretty much at the same point that I used to ... not all perspective is useful... I guess the folks who return from the US to work in India encounter similar illusions in the workplace here ... if only they'd learn faster.

There is also the perspective of time ... I'm pretty sure I had my share of reptiliophobia, or more specifically, a fear of snakes. While jogging along the bay trail, I came across small colourful snakes on more than one occasion sitting right in the middle of the trail. For the first time, I stopped to take a closer look. A part of me wanted to pick it up, simply to conquer a forgotten fear. I decided against it ... but in this case, the perspective is real. The fear has diminished for several reasons.

Lastly, its great to have more live cricket on TV. The 20-2o world cup got off to a simply terrific start with a glittering ceremony... I had no idea that there were so many different types of drums in the world.